Compulsory travel insurance when entering Georgia from January 1, 2026

Full analysis: who needs it, who doesn’t, requirements, border practices, and controversial cases.

From January 1, 2026, Georgia will officially introduce compulsory medical and accident insurance for tourists entering the country.

The basis for this is Government Decree No. 602 of December 26, 2025, which approved the “Rules and Conditions for Compulsory Medical and Accident Insurance for Tourists Entering Georgia.”

Despite the formal entry into force of the regulation, law enforcement practice is still being developed, which raises many questions. Below is a complete and systematic analysis of the situation.

1. When does the requirement take effect?

• Compulsory insurance came into effect on January 1, 2026.
• The requirement applies only when entering Georgia.
• For persons who were in Georgia before January 1, 2026, insurance is not required until they leave the country.
• Upon their next entry, insurance will be required in accordance with the general procedure.

2. Who is affected by compulsory insurance

Key point: insurance is NOT required for all foreigners, but only for tourists.

According to the Georgian Law “On Tourism,” a tourist is a visitor who simultaneously:

• enters the country for leisure, business, or other personal purposes;
• takes a trip with at least one overnight stay;
• stays in the country for no more than 1 year;
• does not enter the country for the purpose of employment in a Georgian organization or institution at the destination.

Therefore, the obligation to have insurance applies only to foreign citizens who fall under this definition.

3. Who does NOT need insurance (closed list)

Decree No. 602 contains an exhaustive (closed) list of exceptions to which the requirement does not apply:

• persons with diplomatic or special visas;
• holders of diplomatic, service, official, and special passports;
• accredited employees of diplomatic missions, consulates, and international organizations, as well as their family members;
• persons entering Georgia under international treaties or agreements;
• drivers engaged in international freight and passenger transportation.

If a category of persons is not included in this list, the exception cannot be applied.

4. What about holders of Georgian residence permits?

Legal logic

Formally, residence permit holders are not directly included in the list of exceptions. However, in most cases, a person with a residence permit:

• is not a tourist (visitor);
• enters the country not for travel, but to exercise their right of residence;
• does not fall under the category of a “temporary visit.”

Practice and position of the authorities

• In practice, residence permit holders are not checked for insurance.
• It is sufficient to present a residence permit card (binadroba) or a decision on its issuance.
• Representatives of the relevant authorities verbally confirm that insurance is not required for residence permit holders.
• There is no official written clarification yet.

Recommendation: until a consistent practice is established, the safest strategy is to have a policy upon entry to avoid disputes at the border.

5. Employees of Georgian companies

For foreign citizens officially employed by Georgian companies, insurance is NOT mandatory, as they:

• are explicitly excluded from the definition of “tourist”;
• enter the country not as visitors, but as persons engaged in labor activities.

What to have with you:

• employment contract;
• confirmation of the foreign employee’s registration in the Ministry of Labor system;
• foreigner’s registration code on the portal.

6. The most controversial category — foreign sole proprietors without a residence permit

Foreigners who have registered as sole proprietors in Georgia but do not have a residence permit are in the most vulnerable position:

• they do not have an employment contract;
• formally, they are not included in the exceptions;
• at the same time, they are not classic tourists, as they conduct business on a permanent basis.

Practical recommendation: such persons are strongly advised to have travel insurance upon entry to avoid being denied entry.

7. Insurance policy requirements

The policy must:

• cover health and accidents;
• have a minimum limit of 30,000 GEL;
• be issued by a Georgian or foreign insurance company;
• be presented in paper or electronic form;
• be in Georgian or English;
• cover the entire period of stay: entry → exit (but not more than 1 year).

8. What must be specified in the policy

The policy must contain:

• the parties to the insurance contract;
• the territory of insurance coverage (Georgia);
• the subject of insurance;
• the start and end dates;
• insurance risks;
• insurance compensation limits;
• the amount of the insurance premium and payment terms.

9. Insurance coverage checklist (medical)

Emergency outpatient care (up to 24 hours)

• Injuries, bruises, sprains, dislocations;
• suspected fractures, wounds, stitches;
• X‐rays and diagnostics;
• burns, frostbite;
• poisoning;
• bleeding;
• colic, acute pain;
• asthma, allergic reactions;
• rabies and tetanus vaccinations (if necessary).

Hospitalization (more than 24 hours)

• Treatment;
• tests;
• inpatient examinations.

Additional

• Ambulance and medical transportation;
• emergency dentistry (pain relief, extraction);
• medical evacuation;
• repatriation for medical reasons.

Active recreation

When planning mountain climbing, rafting, skiing, paragliding, diving, etc., separate coverage for active risks is required.

10. Cost of travel insurance (guidelines for 2026)

• 8 days — €4.20;
• 15 days — €6.50;
• 31 days — €11.00;
• 61 days — €16.00;
• 91 days — €26.00;
• 182 days — €31.00;
• 365 days — €36.00.

11. Where and how insurance is checked in practice

Actual practice at the beginning of 2026:

• Not everyone is checked — approximately 2 out of 10 people.
• Checks take place:
  • at land borders;
  • at airports.
• Airlines check more often than border guards.

The most frequently mentioned are:

• Pegasus,
• Belavia,
• Red Wings,
• Qatar Airways,
• FlyDubai.

If you don’t have insurance, they offer to take it out online right at check‐in.

12. Is insurance checked upon departure?

• Formally, insurance must cover the entire period of stay.
• Upon departure, the dates of stay and coverage may be verified.
• Insurance is not checked within the country.

13. Liability for lack of insurance

At present, there is only one measure of liability: refusal of entry into Georgia. There are no fines or penalties for being in the country without insurance.

14. Brief answers to key questions

Do residence permit holders need insurance?

No (according to current practice).

I am a sole proprietor or have a company, but no residence permit — do I need insurance?

Yes, if your income comes from foreign sources.

No, if you work for a Georgian company.

Arrived before January 1, 2026—do you need to apply for insurance urgently?

No.

Is regular health insurance sufficient?

Yes, if it covers accidents.

Can you enter with short‐term insurance and stay longer?

Yes, but you need to extend your insurance to cover the entire period of your stay.

Conclusion

The law has been passed and is in effect. Its application is still being developed, and differences in interpretation are possible in the first few months.

The main rule for 2026: if you are entering Georgia as a tourist, insurance is mandatory. If your status is borderline or disputed, insurance is the cheapest way to avoid problems at the border.

Mandatory travel insurance in Georgia from January 1, 2026 — FAQ